Marlin 336w

[jersurf101]

I recently purchased a Marlin 336w. The thing that is interesting to me is that it has the jm stamp on the barrel butt it looks to me like it may have been peened out. Is that possible? It is definitely a post 2000 gun so could it have been assembled before Remington took over and sold after? The finish is uniform to the gun over the stamp. This is a bone stock 336.

 

[FrankenMauser]

Barrels were not stamped, until installed on the receiver. And, Remington did not stamp any 336 barrels with "JM". As soon as production moved, they went to the "REP" stamp. (Contrary to internet "experts", the JM-stamped Marlins that shipped out after the move were assembled before the move - not after.)

So, it's most likely:
damage caused by an idiot owner;
a replacement barrel that a gunsmith peened the JM out on;
or an "REP" barrel that someone wanted to make look like a damaged JM-marked barrel.

What are the first two characters of the serial number? (Letters matter, too.)

 

[jmr40]

Subtract the 1st 2 digits of the SN from 100. That will give you a date of manufacture. For example 01 would have been made in 1999. If the 1st digits are 98, then it is a 2002 gun. This works on MOST Marlins made 1972 and later. Not the same code on some special runs etc, but should work on a standard 336.

 

[jersurf101]

The first 2 digits are 98 so it's an 02. There was definitely no rebarrel or messing with the gun at all.

 

[FrankenMauser]

Yea, that's an '02 Marlin.
Maybe a previous owner thought they were someone's initials, and didn't want them on their rifle?...

 

[jersurf101]

Maybe. Thanks fellas